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This clever 4-in-1 keychain charger has made traveling with devices much easier for me
ZDNET's key takeaways
- The InCharge XS is a 4-in-1 charging cable that fits securely to a keyring.
- It's compact and well-designed, and has no problem handling up to 240W of power.
- It falls a little short on charging larger devices like laptops.
Finding yourself carrying a bunch of cables with you when you go traveling? Or you never have the right cable with you when you need it? You could roll up a cable and shove it into a pocket, or you could get a cable specifically designed to attach on your keychain.
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One of the best keychain cables on the market is made by Rolling Square, and the new InCharge XS is a great 4-in-1 portable cable, especially if you're looking for a fast-charging device. It allows data transfer and ultra-fast charging of up to 240W, along with Apple's fast charging of up to 27W.
Rolling Square InCharge XS features
- Cable: USB-C to USB-C with Lightning adapter on one end, USB-A on the other
- Max charge: 240W
- Data transfer speed: 480Mbps / 60MBps
- Size closed: 80 x 15.5 x 15mm / 3.1 x 0.61 x 0.59in
- Size open: 155 x 15.5 x 15mm / 6.1 x 0.61 x 0.59in
- Weight: 34g / 1.2oz
- Materials:
Metal housing
200 braided copper wires
N52 magnets
TPU reinforced cable
Nylon reinforcement
Aramid fiber
The InCharge XS is a compact 4-in-1 cable that is designed for a keychain. It is a 240W USB-C to USB-C cable with a Lightning adapter on one end, and USB-A on the other, allowing it to take on four configurations:
- USB-C to USB-C
- USB-C to Lightning
- USB-A to Lightning
- USB-A to USB-C
The cable is easy to transform between the different configurations.
The ends of the cable are made from metal, and the cable itself is a flat ribbon that's reinforced with nylon and aramid fiber. There's also strong N52 magnets keeping the ends together, and a TPU end cap to protect the ends from wear and tear.
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I've been testing these cables for a few weeks, and I have to say that they live up to the hype. They carry 240W with no problems, they convert between the different configurations quickly and easily, and they clamp onto a keychain securely. In a few weeks of use, I've not managed to lose it, so that says a lot about how well it attaches.
Yes, it fits well onto a keychain!
ZDNET's buying advice
If you need a cable that's unobtrusive enough to carry about with you on a keychain, or a cable that can handle USB devices and Apple's Lightning port, the Rolling Square InCharge XS is a solid option. The only downside I can see is that the 155 mm/6 inches of cable might be a little short for some larger devices. For example, it's a bit short for charging a laptop.
But other than that particular use case, I find this cable to be as close to perfect as a cable can be and it has earned a place in my kit.